On Jan. 6, I suffered a heart attack while at work. I’m home now and recovering nicely. Thankfully, I will have ample time and opportunity to thank my family, friends and co-workers who helped me on that day and during my recovery since. Thanking those health-care professionals who have had a hand in my care is more problematic, so I wanted to take this opportunity to thank them publicly.

I was struck by the dedication, professionalism, and compassion displayed by all those who helped me during my stay at both Woodwinds and St. Joseph’s hospitals. Every member of both those teams, too numerous to list here, not only did their jobs with obvious professionalism and pride, but also with equally obvious joy, humor and humanity.

Today, we have our attentions too easily drawn to the lowest common denominators among us: those whose failings and self-promotions are paraded in front of us on the evening news, pasted across the front pages of the morning paper, or whose exploits are fodder for incessant Internet gossip. We pay far too little attention to, and fail to praise loudly enough, those among us who, day in and day out, work and strive not for fame or notoriety, but to help and serve humanity. These are the people who truly deserve to have the adjective “Sainted” attached to them.

I thank you all very much;

Eric Dammer, Cottage Grove

Tainted

A sharp and angry Tainted to the miscreant criminal who decided that you would steal my brother’s backpack right out of his delivery truck while he was making a delivery. Who does that? What is wrong with you?

My brother, Sean Malone, delivers thousands of pounds of product every day for Jerry’s Produce. This is back-breaking work: loading and unloading boxes onto two-wheelers, up and down the truck ramp, through the ice and sleet and snow. In and out of his truck, up stairs, down stairs, in treacherous alleys and on uneven pavement.

All he carries in his truck is his sad little backpack that had his personal items in it: sunglasses, a winter hat, etc. But it was his. Not yours.

He works hard for his money. He even works out every day to keep at his physical best, to be able to keep up with the grueling pace and rigorous physical demands of his job.

You, however, just simply reached into his truck and snatched out what was not yours. You, sir or ma’am, are a disgrace, and you committed a cowardly act. My brother works harder than most and earns an honest wage. You are a dishonorable thief.

Kelley Malone O’Neill, Woodbury

Tainted

Tainted: the scoundrels who stole a friend’s ice-fishing house from Forest Lake about a week ago. It is forest green and looks similar to a trailer.

Cannot believe people!

Jackie Chlebeck, Oakdale

Sainted

Sainted: to whoever turned in my wallet last Thursday night.

While I was going into United Hospital, it fell out of my purse — although I didn’t know that at the time and frantically retraced my steps in the following hours to everywhere I had been. The next day, as a last resort, I called lost-and-found at United Hospital, and it had been turned in, still containing all its contents!

Thank you so much. You are an honest soul, whoever you are.

M. Wheelock, St. Paul

Sainted

I was visiting my sister in Lake Elmo on Jan. 9 when I backed off her driveway and over a timber. We were trying to figure out what to do when a white pickup zipped up her driveway and a gentleman offered assistance.

I was wedged in the car, but after first attempting to push the car out, he then drove in front and pulled it back onto the driveway. I moved out of his way, and he drove off before I could thank him.

I assumed he was a neighbor, but he told my sister he was just passing by and noticed we needed help.

We both really want to thank the “angel in disguise” who helped us. We were able to enjoy our outing as planned.

Carol Peterson, Mendota Heights

Sainted

On the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 15, between 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., my car slid on ice on East Mississippi Boulevard and ended up in a snowbank. Six Good Samaritans came to my rescue. Had it not been for their kindness and help shoveling and pushing my car out of that snowbank, I never would have safely made it to my destination.

I was never able to get their names, but I want all of them to know they were my guardian angels, and I am so very grateful for their help!

Lynne Lee, St. Paul

Sainted

A Sainted to the kind soul who cleared the sidewalk on Grantham Street between Hendon Avenue and Luther Place .You made the rest of our shoveling so much easier. It’s a blessing to have such great neighbors!

Esme Evans, St. Paul

Tainted & Sainted

I have one of each:

Tainted: the households — renters or owners — who do not shovel their sidewalks after a snowfall. This has been mentioned in the Highland Villager several times, but doesn’t seem to be noticed by those who need to be reminded.

Sainted: the neighbors in the Randolph Davern area who, when they see you out shoveling (or sometimes even before you appear) come with their snowblower to make quick work of clearing your sidewalk. Thank you “Muchly.”

S. George Ann Bohl, St. Paul

Sainted

This past spring, my husband, Jim, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He went through chemotherapy and radiation. He had surgery to remove his stomach and esophagus in September.

Worried about the upcoming winter and snow, I wanted to hire someone to plow for us — although, with the bills coming in stacks, it didn’t seem prudent. We have two sons; both live quite a distance from us, but they always offer to come help their dad.

Dad has always been a rather stubborn man, who was planning on shoveling snow while he was recovering from surgery! He has gotten out there and shoveled as much as he can and takes a break. He suffers from neuropathy in his back due to the radiation. He can only shovel for so long before he is in pain.

I want to thank our neighbors, Blake and Cathy, who are kind enough to snow-blow a good part of the driveway for my husband. We are both so grateful. The city snowplow makes shoveling the lower part of the driveway very painful for Jim, otherwise. Also to our neighbor Al, who stops by every so often to check in on my husband’s condition. Thank you. We very much needed and appreciate your help.

Dawn Elwood, Woodbury

Sainted

A well-deserved Sainted to my neighbor Lizette Piessens of Mahtomedi. She is always doing for others, never asking anything in return: taking others (or going herself) for groceries; taking them to appointments. This building is for older people who sometimes do not have ways to do for themselves.

Lizette just recently lost a longtime friend whom she was close to. She has been under a lot of stress, which put her in the hospital. If more people were like her, it would be a better world. Get well, Lizette, and hope your return home is soon.

Her friend and neighbor,

Helen Wood, Mahtomedi

Sainted

I met a true Saint while shopping at the Dollar Tree in Woodbury.

On Dec. 18, I was buying a large quantity of foil roasters for food baskets that a group of friends sponsor. (We call ourselves “Carnival Characters.”) While waiting in line at the checkout, the woman in front of me commented that I must be doing a lot of holiday cooking, with all those roasters! I explained that all of the roasters were for holiday food baskets for families participating in the Quest program through the Wilder Foundation. It turns out that her mother used to work for Wilder, so she was familiar with the wonderful programs that they offer. When it came time for her to check out, much to my amazement, she turned around and took all of the roasters out of my cart. As I protested, she said it was the least she could do for people less fortunate than she was.

With the money that we saved on the roasters, we were able to buy more food for the food baskets! Gail Henry’s random act of kindness helped many families have a wonderful holiday dinner.

Patty Beaver, Woodbury

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